Montclair Public Library Powers Up for the Next 100 Years

The Montclair Public Library Foundation powers up for their 2014 annual appeal campaign with a goal of $200,000.

Dr. Ed Gold, a prominent orthodontist in Montclair, has raised over $7,300 for the library with his recent marathon run in Albany, NY. He will be “booking it” again for the library at the Philadelphia marathon on Sunday, November 23.

Gold decided to run for the Montclair Public Library with the hope that the library will help lay the foundation for this generation and future generations to learn and apply their acquired knowledge to benefit society. Donations can still be made to Ed Gold’s Philadelphia marathon run on his crowdrise site.

The Friends of the Bellevue Avenue Library presented the Foundation with a check for $1,914 a figure which represents the year the Bellevue Avenue Library first opened its doors.

“As the Montclair Public Library looks forward to a 100th Birthday Celebration of the Bellevue Avenue Library on December 7, we are reminded that 100 years ago Montclair relied on the generosity of the Carnegie Corporation to fund construction of this landmark building; today we rely on the generosity of the community,” said Ed Robin, President of the Friends of the Bellevue Avenue Library.

The Montclair Public Library is able to continue its tradition of excellence, opportunity and discovery with the help of financial donations from the community. Funds raised last year supported the Children’s Summer Reading Program, Sunday hours at the Main Library, materials collection at the Bellevue Avenue Library, EZPass for books technology, Makerspace, and a 3D printer in the Children’s room.

“Consider how valuable the library is by taking a moment to reflect on what we bring to our community – recreation, enrichment, new ideas, knowledge and learning opportunities,” said David Hinkley, MPL Library Director. “We need your financial support to continue to provide unique and invaluable services to Montclair.”

The Montclair Public Library has defined the heart of Montclair for over 120 years. Today’s no fee services include story times, entertaining and educational events for all ages, homework assistance, internet and Wi-Fi access, books, DVD’s and electronic collections. During the past year alone the library has had over 380,000 visits from children and adults.

“Libraries open doors to lifelong learning,” said Wilford Adkins, President of the Montclair Public Library Board of Trustees. “Fulfilling our mission to provide resources that promote learning and leisure enables people of all ages to enrich their horizons and increase their knowledge.”

“We will be tracking our progress toward our $200,000 goal using the Book-O-Meter signs posted in front of both Library locations. The community should have received an Appeal card in the mail or via email this week. Please do what you can to help ‘build the stack,’” said Alison Bauer, Chair of the Montclair Public Library Foundation. “Our goal is to sustain our vision of being the center of the Montclair community.”

Donations to the Library may be made by check to the Montclair Public Library Foundation, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, or online at the Foundation website, montclairplf.org.

Information and photo courtesy of The Montclair Public Library